Louisiana and Mississippi also typically hold elections in odd years. However, legislators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those are not up for election again until 2015.

A total of 40 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats, and 180 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for re-election. Altogether, 220 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for re-election on November 5, 2013.

On November 5, there were seventeen special elections scheduled. Because voters in Washington vote by mail, the three elections in that state will not be decided until later in the week.

A total of 40 (2.0%) of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for election in November 2013, and 180 (3.3%) of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for election. Altogether, 220 (3.0%) of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for election.

Democrats were able to stop any strong gains by Republican candidates in the 2013 election. There were no changes to the partisan balance of the State Senate. Republicans in General Assembly were able to pick up two seats from the Democratic majority. In the Senate, every incumbent who ran in 2013 won re-election. Two Democratic incumbents from the General Assembly were defeated on November 5, 2013.

The following are a few races that turned up extremely close under unofficial election results.

Republican majorities ultimately held strong, with Democrats gaining one seat and Republicans bolstering their majority by an additional two seats. Two seats were previously vacant and one seat, previously held by independent Lacey Putney, was won by a Republican candidate. The following are some interesting elections and races that turned up extremely close under unofficial election results.

District 93

Note: Unofficial results put Mason ahead of Watson by a margin of 12,138 to 11,102 votes.[4]

On November 5, 2013, there were seventeen special elections scheduled. Because voters in Washington vote by mail, the three elections in that state will not be decided until later in the week. No vacant seats changed party hands.

Special elections on November 5, 2013

State

Elections

Georgia

4

Massachusetts

1

Michigan

1

Mississippi

3

New Hampshire

1

New York

3

Texas

1

Washington

3

Highlighted Race

Background

In December 2012, Tim Sheldon (D), Rodney Tom (D) and 23 Republicans signed a pledge to form a majority caucus called the Majority Coalition Caucus, wresting control of the Senate from the Democratic caucus which had maintained an advantage following the 2012 election. Under this arrangement, Sheldon became President Pro Tempore and Tom became Senate Majority Leader, with Republicans filling the remaining leadership positions. Though hailed by caucus members as a bellwether of cooperation, Democrats disagreed with claims of bipartisanship.

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, three committees are chaired by Democrats, 11 by Republicans, and one is co-chaired.[5]

Prior to the formation of the Majority Coalition Caucus, Washington had a Democratic trifecta. A state government trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and a majority in both legislative chambers.